New Jack City

The ruthless leader of a New York City drug syndicate battles to maintain his power and avoid imprisonment in this fast-moving action drama. While the film's heroes are Scotty (Ice-T) and Nick (Judd Nelson), a pair of tough, streetwise cops, the main focus is their target, drug lord Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes). A criminal businessman with no room for pity or emotion,

Overview

The ruthless leader of a New York City drug syndicate battles to maintain his power and avoid imprisonment in this fast-moving action drama. While the film's heroes are Scotty (Ice-T) and Nick (Judd Nelson), a pair of tough, streetwise cops, the main focus is their target, drug lord Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes). A criminal businessman with no room for pity or emotion, the flashy but severe Brown has built an empire and transformed an abandoned Harlem apartment building into a well-defended fortress. He begins to consider himself invincible, but his lust for power and the unpredictable actions of a former client turned police informer threaten to bring about his potential downfall. First-time director Mario Van Peebles keeps the traditional plot moving at an appropriately rapid pace, with stylish action sequences and energetic performances. The film's violence was somewhat controversial on its initial release, especially after shooting incidents marred showings in several theaters. However, the film's moral message is clearly anti-drug and anti-crime, its main intent to provide a high-powered, modern take on the gangster movie.

Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Michael Costello

Director Mario Van Peebles's debut feature is far from original, but Wesley Snipes' charismatic performance, its nonstop action, rocketing pace, and anti-drug message all contribute to the impact of this well-executed genre film. A fusion of Scarface (1932), Public Enemy (1931), The Godfather (1972), and a dozen other gangster rise-and-fall sagas, it's both a glamorous chronicle of the swiftly burgeoning power of crack in the New York of the 1980s and a scathing cautionary tale. "Ya gotta rob to get rich in the Reagan era," Snipes' drug kingpin informs his loyal troops, and like Coppola's masterpiece, the film links crime with business as the hard-working capitalists ply their trade. As the drug gang turns an abandoned Harlem building into their personal fortress, the film recalls the ease with which the crack lords once dominated entire areas of New York. Snipes, arrogant, narcisstic, methodical, ruthless, and magnetic in his evil, has rarely been better. Ice-T and Judd Nelson make a strange pair of narcotics detectives, but here, they rise to the occasion.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The writer for this film was a journalist from Harlem, New York in the 1980's, when crack first hit the scene, so he had a first hand look of what it did to his neighborhoods. The is Wesley Snipes best performance ever, (other that Sugar Hill),and Chris Rock is brilliant. Allen Payne plays Gee money with perfection,The sexy Tracy Camilla Johns Burns up the screen and the whole cast is strong.It will be a classic forever. PART 2 PLEASE!!!!!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

If you like 'Scarface' and 'King of New York' then you'll like this. Nino Brown is a modern day Tony Montana. There are so many characters it's hard to pick my favorite. The cops(Judd Nelson and Ice-T), Pookie the crackhead(a serious Chris Rock), Nino Brown(Wesley Snipes), and all of Brown's crew. This film is dazzling and the acting is good. It's filled with action, excitement, drama, and revenge. Plus there's alot of memorable quotes. This is a great film, though I wouldn't say it's on the same level as 'Scarface'. Check it out.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I first saw this in 1993 and was totally blown away by the directing, cinematography, script and acting and so I was really looking forward to seeing it again after an absence of almost thirteen years. But after seeing this a second time I could scarcely believe I was watching a film I had remembered very well. In 1994 I would have given this film 5 out of 5 but instead I&#8217;ve given it a 4 due to its frail ending. New Jack City (1991) is an interesting movie that aims to please. This film marks the first time Mario Van Peebles directed a theatrical released film (that his father helped co-write) and he co-stars in the film as well. The movie follows a small time hood Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) who builds up a vast criminal empire by flooding the streets with crack cocaine. Ice-T and Judd Nelson co-stars as well as two unorthodox cops who want to lock up Nino Brown. Allen Payne (Gee Money) and Mario van Peebles himself (Stone) has also giving some approved performances in here. The acting is not the strongest part of this film but to me, three men made this film worthy of attention which is Wesley, Ice-T, and Rock. Chris Rock is unforgettable in this movie and he shines in his role as the "crack-head" Pookie. He has so many one-liners that are hysterical. The real winner is truly Wesley Snipes, who plays a role we don't usually identify with him, and does so with considerable spirit. He is utterly believable the scene where he describes first killing someone while high on drugs scared the crap out of me - this is not someone I want as a friend! - Which happens to be a central theme of this film. There are flaws in it to be sure, primarily of continuity - there are moments for which we are unprepared, and loose ends that don't get tied. The "Cash Money" drug cartel never gets its act together as a criminal organization - which may be the point, but in which case this needs greater exploration on the street level - without soldiers, you have no army, a lesson the Mafia could still teach the younger gangs. But taken all-in-all, "New Jack City" is a tough crime thriller, well-presented, with a great cast at their strongest. Despite it flaws, it holds a lot of strong and impressive moments which makes this worth a watch.